This is a quick demonstration on how we maintain our Westfalia detachable tow bar. We have a ALKO hitch & stabiliser so we need to keep the lowball grease and grime free.
Dan, I learnt so much about Caravaning before we bought our first van 4 years ago. Today, we bought a new car with a Witter tow bar. This video helped me save hundreds of pounds, as we have managed to free the stuck tow ball on the advice you gave. Thank you so much, Dan, Jon
Just recently I changed my car and had a new painted towball. I set about removing the paint completely and polished the ball surface and cleaned off with brake cleaner. When towing I had creaking at just about every roundabout. The friction pads were brand new. After trying to resolve the issue I took it to a dealership. They said I had got too much shine on the ball so roughed the surface with very coarse sandpaper. Have had no problems since. So do not polish your balls too much!!!
Hi Peter, Yes for a new tow ball, simply set yourself down and use lots and lots of wet & dry or emery cloth. Use something a bit course like a 200 or 400 grit paper. Take your time and just work the paint off. Hope that helps. Dan
Hi Michael, Don't confuse WD40 with the "WD40 degreaser" but the facts is very simple. It will leave a greasy, oily residue behind after use. This will contaminate your hitch, and glaze the friction pads. The WD40 degreaser does leave behind a film after application. Ive seen first hand this being used on a hitch and hearing the inevitable creak afterwards. To be safe, i recommend using brake disc cleaner and nothing else. I hope that helps. Take care Dan
yeah this seems like making hardwork of ball polishing, I use a round brass wire brush on a drill. the brass is just hard enough to to do the job, my ball isn't detachable. (titter). Trev.
Not made clear enough that this advice is for use with a hitch that has stabilising friction pads in it (I guess the "ALKO hitch and stabiliser" are meant to refer to that). However with a non-stabliser hitch there is no intention of friction on the tow ball so it *should* be greased simply to reduce the wear that could take the diameter out of spec.
@@TheTrudgians the ones we use here in the US come in a few different forms. there are ones that are adjustable in hight and ones that have every size of ball on it. but the generic ones look like this. some times people flip them and mount the ball upside down to give it more ground clearance. b.cdnbrm.com/images/products/large/hitch_accessories/curt_ready_tow_ball_mount.jpg mitsubishiforum.com/forum/attachments/mitsubishi-outlander-10/9059d1501367922-receiver-question-tow-hitch-dscf0006.jpg but l have never seen one like the ones you're using. is that a common design over there or is that just for towing those small travel trailers?
